Belonging: New Poetry by Iranians Around the World

Recent political developments, including the shadow of a new war,
have obscured the fact that Iran has a long and splendid artistic tradition
ranging from the visual arts to literature. Western readers may have some
awareness of Iranian works thanks to a few breakout successes like Reading
Lolita in Tehran and My Uncle Napoleon, but the country's strong
poetic tradition remains little known. This anthology remedies that situation
with a rich selection of recent poetry by Iranians living all around the world,
including Amir-Hossein Afrasiabi: "Although the path / tracks my footsteps, / I
don't travel it / for the path travels me." Varying dramatically in style, tone,
and theme, these expertly translated works include erotic divertissements by
Ziba Karbassi, rigorously formal poetry by Yadollah Royaii, experimental poems
by Naanaam, powerful polemics by Maryam Huleh, and the personal-epic work of
Shahrouz Rashid. Eclectic and accessible, these vibrant poems deepen the often
limited awareness of Iranian identity today by not only introducing readers to
contemporary Iranian poetry, but also expanding the canon of significant writing
in the Persian language. Belonging offers a glimpse at a complex culture
through some of its finest literary talents.

Niloufar Talebi founded The
Translation Project (www.thetranslationproject.org),
whose mission is to bring contemporary Iranian
literature to worldwide audiences in multiple languages
and media. She lives in San Francisco. Zack Rogow has
translated Colette's Green Wheat, Marcel Pagnol's
play Marius, and other works. Dan O'Connell is an
award-winning poet and the author of Different Coasts,
a full-length collection of poetry on the theme of
alienation.

"Talebi's
accomplishment in gathering the poetry of the Iranian Diaspora is unprecedented
and breathtaking. It is as if she has, by force of commitment and vision, and by
way of cultural hunger, bequeathed a new literary heritage to Iran and the
world...."

-Carolyn Forché

Editor of Against
Forgetting: Twentieth Century Poetry of Witness

"Niloufar
Talebi has accomplished the ultimate magic trick in her clean and modern
translation. She has made the work of modern Persian poets read like original
English ... an unparalleled contribution."

-Willis
Barnstone

Author of With
Borges on an Ordinary Evening in Buenos Aires

"Poetry is a
world art because of brilliant editors and translators like Niloufar Talebi ...
Here are the poets, in all their power, defiance, dignity, wildness, and lyric
grace, scattered across the earth, yet united in this book...

-Martín Espada

Pulitzer Prize
nominee and author of The Republic of Poetry

"In Belonging,
with literary skill and passion, Talebi has made a major contribution to the
recognition of contemporary Iranian literature in the West..."

The book I've been
working on for 6 year, the bilingual anthology, BELONGING:
New Poetry by Iranians Around the Worldwill
be published this summer.

My organization,
The
Translation Project, presents new Iranian literature not only
in award-winning translation, but in exciting, innovative film and
theater projects that further illuminate these powerful works, making them
accessible to diverse audiences. You can see
YOUTUBE clips. We
offer world-class programming that can be curated in many successful ways and at
diverse venues: book events, dramatic poetry readings, film screenings,
theatrical and multimedia literary presentations, and festivals, at
universities, galleries, festivals, readings series, museums, etc.

I live in SF, and will
be on the east coast in the Fall. Please
contact us if you
are interested in finding out more about our programming or would like to book
an event.